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Topic: History

The 90-year old actor made a grand entrance Thursday, riding up to Danville High School in a replica of 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' with a performance by the school's show choir. Van Dyke is back to mark the launch a foundation to restore his childhood home, and help fund careers in the arts for young people.

Thursday marked the last meeting of the Champaign Unit 4 Tier 2 Facilities Committee, which unanimously agreed that Central High School should remain on site and expand, rather than be torn down and rebuilt. The panel didn't endorse a specific financial package for a fall bond issue that would also include additions at Centennial High School, and work on as many as four other school district buildings.

The 90-year old actor's return to Danville will include fundraising events to preserve his childhood home. Public events will include a tribute at Danville High School, following by a reception at Harrison Park. "Through all my 90 years, I've remained, in my heart, the same Midwestern nerd you knew so long ago," Van Dyke said in a statement released by Mayor Scott Eisenhauer.

U of I history professor Adrian Burgos learned through his family, and his love for baseball, that Latin players played a large role in the game since its early days. Burgos' research is the focus of "Playing America's Game", which includes interviews with Hall of Famer Dave Winfield, and current Chicago White Sox slugger Jose Abreu. The program premieres Saturday at 6 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.

On The 21st: What's it like for Syrian refugees resettling in Illinois? Plus, the Obama administration announced a plan to provide millions of Americans with overtime pay - what does that mean for employers in Illinois? And a new documentary presents the history of Latinos in baseball.

Michael Chrzastowski worked for years as a geologist at the University of Illinois. Instead of retirement, however, he decided to pursue a second career in religion. Now, the Lutheran helps Christians better understand Islam.

Computer synthesizers have likely become a staple of your daily life – Siri, digital music, YouTube and more – but do you know where they come from? One of the earliest synthesizer structures was invented in the University of Illinois’ Experimental Music Lab in the early 1960s as part of one of the first computer instruments – The Harmonic Tone Generator.

University of Illinois graduate Tatyana McFadden has won her fourth straight women's wheelchair race at the Boston Marathon. McFadden completed the 26.2-mile course from Hopkinton to Copley Square in an official time of 1 hour, 42 minutes, 16 seconds.